Record Review 9 Southern Culture on The Skids: Countrypolitan

Southern Culture On The Skids (SCOTS) has redefined white trash rock for years. Rick Miller who handles the guitar and male vocal chores might or might not be the bastard son of Roger Miller but he certainly is not the half brother of the tunefull and too good looking Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s. I am a SCOT’s fan come lately. They have been around since 1986. A Chapel Hill North Carolina band they have had the same three people, Miller, Dave Hartman on Drums and well coifed Mary Huff on bass guitar. They won me over when opening for BR-549 at the Pageant about two years ago when they stole the show.

According to Wikipedia, “SCOTS music is generally very upbeat, as they usually write and perform songs about dancing, sex, and fried chicken, which are main themes in songs such as "Cheap Motels," "Soul City," and "Eight Piece Box" respectively. They are also known for their live shows, which often include throwing fried chicken and banana pudding into the audience, and audience members invited to dance onstage.” All true. They simply put on a great rocking show and Miller does the surf guitar as well as anyone (including Dick Dale) and can more then hold is own in rockabilly. He makes it scratch and pop.
Not that there is anything wrong with dancing, sex and fried chicken but they chose to do this CD as one of covers of other artists and they go all over the map with some...interesting choices. Do not look for respectful Buck Owens and Hank Williams and Carter Family homilies. They do touch some country greatness like their take on Don Gibson’s “Oh Lonesome Me”, but they also reach into some odd “country” choices like the Kinks “Muswell Hillbillies” and the Who’s “Happy Jack.” Unlike most cover CD’s this is not really a romp but seems to be a well thought out focus on showing their range. There are some mis-steps such as in Roger Miller’s “Engine Engine Number 9” and T-Rex’s “Lifes A Gas” does not make the transition but this CD is worth the price of admission and right now seems to be a critics darling.

If you are not familiar with them I would suggest going out and getting their CD “Dirt Track Date” to really get a feeling for them. This is not thinking mans music. If your looking for depth or feeling go get a Modest Mouse CD and put a gun in your mouth but for my money their version of the song “Venus” for out shocks the Shocking Blue. All in all this is a CD for fans of the band, or fans of the weird. I like it but I would never put it on for strangers. 7 1/2 Slingers out of 10
Your iTunes Composite for Souther Culture on the Skids
1. Nitty Gritty
2. These Boots Were made For Walking
3. Venus
4. Soul City
5. Banana Puddin
6. I learned To Dance In Mississippi
7. Camel Walk
8. Muswell Hillbillies
9. Liquored Up and Lacquered Down
10. Dirt Track Date
11. The Wet Spot
12. 8 Piece Box
13. Fried Chicken And Gasoline
14. Country Funk
15. ‘69 El Camino
16. Voodoo Cadillac
17. Oh Lonesome Me